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GPS odometer
User manual
explona series are devices designed to provide accurate distance measurement and
navigation. It can have both ground and marine use.
It is a modern odometer with an integrated GPS receiver. So far most devices uses data
collected from wheel turns to determine elapsed distance. explona enhances this mode by
using GPS information as well. This solution provides very accurate measurements and
enables to display current speed, geographic location, altitude above the sea level and precise
time. Furthermore the navigation toward user waypoints is also possible. A voltage of the
main battery is shown as well.
The device is equipped with standard RS232 communication interface. It allows to connect to
PC or PDA. This way additional navigation help can be provided externally.
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You should calibrate the device after installation and each change of tyres. Imprecise
measurement can occur otherwise.
1 How it works
In normal mode distance, speed and other parameters are computed using GPS. This
information are correct even during long drive through mud or deep sand where slewing and
skidding are unavoidable. If the GPS signal is weak (e.g. in tunnels) or antenna has been
damaged the device automatically reverts to measurement based on wheel turns. The validity
of data is preserved. Calibration of the device is preformed automatically, almost without user
intervention.
2 Features
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Two independent distance measurements. The main counter has a resolution of 1m,
auxiliary 100m. Both values decrease while reversing. Maximum value is 20000km.
After that a rollover to 0 is performed.
Speed measurement with 1km/h resolution.
Configurable units. Both distance and speed can be shown in most common units: km
(km/h), miles (mph) or nautical miles (knots).
”Back” function, allowing to preserve correct measurements while returning to the
correct route.
Automatic choice of best source of information (GPS/wheels).
24h clock, automatically adjusted from GPS, with configurable time zone.
Stop-watch with resolution of 0.1s.
Display of the main battery voltage, with configurable low-mark and high-mark alerts.
Display of current location and height above the mean sea level.
Compass – indication of current course (only while moving).
Advanced navigation:
– 100 waypoints,
– waypoints can be added, edited and deleted directly in explona,
– automatic logging of track from the last 14 hours of driving,
– Garmin and NMEA support.
Selectable languages: English and Polish.
Backed-up memory. All values are remembered after power off.
Large, backlit LCD display with two brightness levels (for day and night work) and
antireflection coating.
3 Operation
Basic functions of buttons are shown on next page.
It is recommended to hold manipulator with a cable directed upward (see a figure).
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NEXT SCREEN
INCREASE
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SUBSCREEN
DECREASE
RESET
ENTER
All readings are shown on four screens:
 odometer,
 navigation,
 geographic position,
 auxiliary.
3.1 General information
In some circumstances (due to the nature of GPS) part of readings may not be entirely
accurate. It is indicated with blinking of uncertain value.
The cursor indicates the place which can be changed using YELLOW (increase) or BLACK
(decrease). RED button accepts/goes to next field.
3.2 Odometer
REAL SPEED
DISTANCE
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BATTERY VOLTAGE or
URGENT INFORMATION:
 Back
 Antenna
 H-W
 Voltage out of limits
TIME
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Urgent information:
 Back — Back function enabled,
 Antenna — improper condition of antenna (disconnected or shorted), detailed
information is present on auxiliary screen,
 H-W — no communication with GPS receiver,
 Voltage out of preset limits is indicated with blinking battery icon.
RED button resets distance. Pressing and holding BLACK button shows a subscreen. In this
case RED resets Total distance and YELLOW starts/stops stopwatch. Stopwatch is reset by
pressing and holding YELLOW.
3.3 Navigation
WAYPOINT NAME
NAVIGATION TO
TARGET
DISTANCE IN STRAIGHT
LINE
Navigation to target shows in which direction and how much should be turned to aim straight
to waypoint.
Pressing and holding BLACK shows subscreen with present heading and bearing to target.
Pressing RED button invokes navigation menu. Afterwards current waypoint name is shown
in the bottom line of the display and first menu option in top one. Options are distinguished by
indention and the dot symbol in front of them. The triangle indicates selection of the
waypoint. Right arrow picks waypoint to edit and X means deleting the point.
Current navigation point can be selected in the navigation menu. In menu the following
options can be picked as well:
 New WPT... — allows to add a new waypoint,
 Edit WPT... — allows to modify a waypoint,
 Delete WPT... — deletes a waypoint,
 Cancel — abort and return to navigation screen.
Adding or modifying a waypoint invokes another menu in which you can:
 change the name of the waypoint (initial name is composed of a current date and time),
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change the geographic coordinates (current position is an initial value); invalid entries
won’t be accepted,
Save waypoint,
Cancel entire operation.
Adding a new waypoint is possible only with good GPS signal condition — otherwise
appropriate message will appear.
3.4 Geographic position
LATITUDE
LONGITUDE
On this screen a current geographic position is displayed. Values can be shown in two
formats:
 degrees, minutes, thousandths of minutes; height above the mean sea level (HMSL);
 degrees, minutes, seconds, hundredths of second.
The default format of coordinates is set in the setup. Pressing and holding BLACK shows the
alternative one. Due to the way GPS works altitude can sometimes be imprecise.
3.5 Auxiliary information
ANTENNA STATUS:
 OK
 Shrt
 Open
WORK MODE
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WHEELS ARE
TURNING
GPS MODE:
 NoFix
 2Dfix
 3DFix
NUMBER OF
SATELLITES
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Antenna status:
 OK — antenna works OK,
 Open — no antenna present (disconnected),
 Shrt — antenna shorted (turning off explona or removing the cause of short circuit
is advised).
GPS mode:
 NoFix — unknown geographic position,
 2Dfix — position is valid, altitude is uncertain,
 3DFix — both position and altitude are valid.
Device operation mode displays information about current source of measurement data:
 imp — GPS signal is insufficient to provide accurate readings, data are collected
from wheel turns
 GPS — GPS system in use.
Wheels are turning indicator shows correct work of entire wheel input system. It is shown
only when wheels are rotating. If this symbol is not present during a moderate speed drive
then you should check your converter and its wiring.
Pressing and holding BLACK button shows information about memory usage — percentage
of track memory used and number of stored waypoints. Pressing and holding RED button
shows a serial number.
3.6 Back function
Switching the direction switch to ”Back” causes:
 when driving forward — subtracting the distance
 when driving backward — adding the distance.
It enables to return to the correct route while preserving reliable readings.
4 Navigation
explona contains a GPS receiver which enables to acquire current position. This way a
straight-line navigation to waypoint can be achieved. The device is not equipped with a map.
The basic terms regarding navigation are following:
 Waypoint (WPT for short) — a point with specified name and geographic
coordinates stored into internal memory.
 Route — a collection of waypoints representing a desired travel path.
 Track — an automatic log of elapsed way. explona remembers last 14 hours of
driving.
 Heading — the geographic direction you are moving to (0° is North, 90°— East,
180°— South, 270°— West).
 Bearing — a direction you should be moving along to reach a waypoint.
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Waypoints shown upon a map.
A map with a track.
4.1 PC/PDA communication using Garmin protocol
The Garmin protocol enables a bidirectional communication of explona with an external
navigation software. This way a software can:
 send and receive waypoints,
 send routes,
 receive a logged track,
 receive current position and time.
4.2 Communication using NMEA
The device is equipped with a NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) interface as
well. This way explona informs external devices about current position, speed, altitude and
time. The exact way of using provided data depends on external software.
In order to connect explona to external PC/PDA you need to obtain special cable. If you’re
connecting NMEA to PC be sure to plug it in after an operating system starts. Otherwise (due
to peripheral autodetection) sometimes NMEA transmissions can be mistaken for a serial
mouse, rendering pointer useless. In such case disconnect explona from PC, restart your PC
and reattach NMEA after a operating system is loaded.
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4.3 Compatible software
explona v2.0 was successfully tested with the following software:
 AutoMapa,
 EasyGPS,
 emapa nawigator,
 Fugawi,
 GPS utility,
 Kashmir 3D,
 OziExplorer.
Other software expecting NMEA and/or Garmin GPS receiver should also work.
5 Configuration
Entering into configuration menu (setup):
 turn off the power,
 turn on the power,
 press and hold RED button when ”Hold RED button to enter SETUP”
appears,
 setup menu will appear shortly afterwards.
In setup you can change following settings:
1 Time zone — sets a local time zone. Allowable settings are from GMT-12 to
GMT+12. In Europe winter time is usually GMT+1 and summer (also known
as ”Daylight saving”) is GMT+2.
2 Language — selection of a language (English or Polish).
3 Calibration — enable to automatically calibrate the device.
4 Units — selection of units of speed and distance:
km/h km,
mph mi — miles per hour, miles,
kts Nm — knots, Nautical miles.
5 Operation mode — sets mode of operation:
GPS+imp (auto) — automatic selection of the best source of
measurements,
GPS only — forces use of GPS only (useful if a malfunction occurs in wheel
speed converter).
6 Battery good — setting of allowable range for a voltage.
7 Reverse gear — allows to select used method of connecting reverse gear
(activated by ”+” or ”–” of installation). On the screen there is symbol ”F”
when explona thinks you’re going forward and symbol ”R” when going
backward. You should pick appropriate mode to match the real settings.
8 Lat/Lon format — selects default format of displaying and editing
geographic coordinates (ddd°mm.mmm’ or ddd°mm’ss.ss”).
9 Restore factory settings — resets all options to the factory defaults
(Time zone GMT+2, English language, 3500 pulses/km, metric units (km/h &
km), automatic mode of operation, battery good range: 11.5V–14.8V, reverse
gear activated by ”–”, geographic position with degrees and minutes).
Warning: distance and timer are reset as well.
10 Clear track — erases logged track.
11 Save & quit — leaves setup.
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5.1 Menu ”3 Calibration”
Calibration of the device allows to determine number of impulses per 1 km. This data is
necessary to accurately measure the distance when GPS signal is weak.
Calibration should be performed after installing the device and after each change of tyres. To
calibrate the device you should find appropriate road, without obstacles obscuring the sky
(such as tunnels, wide trees, bridges, etc). If possible the road should be straight. If ”GPS
signal too weak” appears on display calibration should be repeated on another piece of
road.
Calibration in detail:
 enter setup (see section 5),
 wait for approximately 1 minute for GPS to acquire present position,
 go to menu ”3 Calibration” and press RED button,
 drive,
 after a 1 km ”Thank you” will appear. Press YELLOW or BLACK button,
 go to ”11 Save & quit” and press RED button.
While calibrating observe number of impulses n. If the distance to go decreases and n remains
constant check your converter.
6 Installation
The device should be installed in a safe way. It should not endanger health of
driver/passengers during both regular work and accident. In particular it should not be in a
way of air bags. According to the manufacturer of enclosed GPS antenna, the maximum
speed of car with attached antenna should be less than 180 km/h.
6.1 Set components
1.
2.
3.
4.
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6.
7.
8.
Odometer explona (display and GPS module),
magnetic GPS antenna,
pilot,
shielding case for converter connection,
cable to connect speed signal,
user manual and warranty card,
set of stickers,
box.
6.2 Mechanical installation
The device should be permanently attached above the expected water level. Display module
should be readable for pilot and shouldn’t distract the driver. Antenna should ”see the sky”
and be protected from damage.
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6.3 Electrical installation
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GPS antenna should be plugged into appropriate connection on the GPS module,
black wire (GND) should be connected to car ground,
white wire (REAR) should be connected to reverse gear switch,
red wire (+12V) — power supply after the ignition or dedicated switch (explona
doesn’t have its own switch).
Warning: power supply should be protected with a 1A to 3A fuse.
6.4 Connection of speed signal
In cars equipped with a mechanical speedometer it is necessary to use an additional converter
(not present in the set). It should be installed between speedometer and speedometer cable.
Converter shouldn’t be placed directly on a gearbox (reducer) – it may be damaged (by
water for example).
Converter should be connected to a connector shown on a picture below:
If car is equipped with an electrical speedometer you should connect vehicle speed signal
(from car’s wiring – VSS) to cable ”SPEED” shown on next page.
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Caution: actual colours can be different from the ones shown above. Functions are unaffected.
After installation you should calibrate the device (see section 5.1)
7 Technical data
LCD displays in high temperatures becomes darker. In low temperatures response time
increases. It is typical.
External dimensions
Case
Weight
Display
Distance resolution
Distance measuring
error
Operating voltage
Current consumption
Minimal impulses per
kilometre
NMEA interface
Garmin interface
Waypoints
Track capacity
Antenna GPS
Temperature range
170x65x35mm (display module)
155x50x28mm (GPS module)
aluminium, black (display module)
plastic, black (GPS module)
730g, without antenna
Character liquid crystal display (LCD), viewable area: 99x24mm
(character size: 4.84x9.66mm), green-yellow backlight with two
intensity levels (day/night), antireflection coating
1m (100m for total)
+3m for 1km; -1m for 2.5km*
10 – 36V
270mA (day backlight), 120mA (night backlight), measured @
14.4V
400
RS232, baud rate: 4800 bit/s
RS232, baud rate: 9600 bit/s
100
last 14 hours of moving
manufacturer: Alps, active, magnetic, 3V, SMB, 5m cable
-20°C do +70°C
*
Average results.
We reserve the right to change specifications without prior notice.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used for information purposes only.
© Copyright by explona Devel Team
explona v2.0 User manual
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